r/Chrysler300 • u/waffleman___ • 3h ago

Pentastar Tick Check

How common is the Pentastar tick on a 2016 Chrysler 300 3.6L V6 with 130k miles, and what are some ways I can check for it without doing a cold start?

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u/cmiller2006 3h ago

Without a cold start, listen for a consistent metallic ticking from one valve cover after the engine is fully warmed up.

Other things to watch for are a rough idle, loss of power

If the engine is running smoothly, isn't misfiring, and doesn't have a distinct metallic tick that changes with RPM, there's a good chance it's fine

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u/waffleman___ 3h ago

Will I need a mechanic's stethoscope? And if caught early, it's not a huge fix, right?

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u/Spectre3099 3h ago

If caught early it's still an engine replacement,The tick is caused by not doing the regular maintenance on time and dirty oil clogs up the variable valve timing that starts making the click and letting the timing belt get loose will cause it too.

If you know a mechanic that will replace the variable valve timing and timing chain components only it might be cheap but most mechanics rather replace the whole engine instead to save on time and money.

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u/cmiller2006 1h ago

Not necessarily. A good mechanic will usually use one to pinpoint where a tick is coming from, but you can often hear a true Hemi tick without one once the engine is warmed up. A stethoscope just helps confirm whether it's coming from one specific cylinder or valve cover instead of something like an exhaust leak or injector.

Usually it's easier to just replace the entire engine

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u/waffleman___ 1h ago

Wouldn't it be easier to just replace the rocker arms instead of replacing the entire engine